How do they determine if you have nerve damage? - Pain Management Message Board

kim32 · 01-14-2003, 09:05 PM

I'm going on February 5th to a physcial medicine and rehabiliation for my chronic pain (upper stomach area burns 24/7 plus sometimes goes towards my back) it has been like this for 8 weeks now since my gallbladder was taken out. Well next monday, the 20th i have an appointment with my primary doctor i want to ask her about taking "neurontin" for nerve pain just to see what it does. If i do have nerve damage from the gallbladder surgery would neurontin help the pain at all? is anyone familiar with neurontin? how do they detect if i have nerve damage? is there like certain kinds of tests, x-rays that they can do to see?? The more that i read up on the internet the more that i'm thinking that my chronic burning pain is from nerve damage (being that my gastro doctor says that everything else is normal, according to all of the tests that i have had done).
I just don't want to be in chronic pain without knowing what's causing it. Any information i would appreciate! thanks! Kim

marcie37 · 01-15-2003, 12:54 PM

kim, I have been going through something similar and am at my wits end as well. I had a hysterectomy 2 months ago and i have burning pain in my low pelvic and low back area... the pain also moves. I have been diagnosed with anxiety disorder from my primary.. he has today started me on wellbutrin... I think he thinks this will cure my pain? He says chronic pain is often treated with antidepressants, well yeah, chronic pain is extremely depressing... especially when you don't know the exact reason. I think i am gonna look into seeing a neurololgist... please keep any progress posted and I will too. Keep your chin up, it is sometimes nice to just talk to people going through what you are , many just don't understand and think your nuts.Good Luck on your feb. appt.

kim32 · 01-15-2003, 01:33 PM

Hi marcie,
Well if this place or a neurologist says that they can make my pain go away by doing a nerve block or cutting some nerves, i'm going to have it done.
I don't want to be in this kind of pain 24/7 everyday for the rest of my life (i'm only 32 yrs. old).
I don't want to live off of pain med's now either (they don't work, they only make me sick). I just wish that my darn gallbladder wouldn't of acted up back in september (well actually it all started in july but it got worse in september) and i have been in pain every since. :-( The first thing that i'm going to say to this physcial medicine and rehabilation place is "get rid of this pain by doing some nerve blocks". even if it means that i would have to go there every week to get it done i would just to stop the pain. yeah check into a neurologist or have your doctor refer you to a physcial medicine and rehabiliation place, they deal with chronic pain people, yeah let's keep in touch! Kim

mlaws · 01-17-2003, 03:58 PM

Anyone thinking of having a nerve block better think twice. I had an intercostal nerve block in march 2002 by a doctor who was supposed to be one of the best pain management doc's in Lexington KY due to a fractured rib that would not heal. My pain is now worse than before, and trying to get another doctor to admit that a procedure performed by a doctor who thinks he is god is impossible. When i advised this doctor that the pain was worse he dropped me as a patient, although i had been taking oxycontin for 4 months, he refused my phone calls after that and did not give me any advice or help with withdrawal. I am 48, I have worked all my life, raised 2 children by myself, i am now unable to work and soon looking at having to live in my car. Pain is not a disability according to social security.

I cannot sit in an upright position for more than 15 min without pain, cannot play with my 1 year old grandchild, cannot drive any distance over 30 min in length (college student lives out of state and i cannot go visit him), no vacations, no sitting in chair to sew use the computer or do any other hobbys i used to enjoy.

No pain meds for me because that would be admiting that the procedure did not work. also according to the Lexington Herald Leader anyone on pain meds is an addit.

Please reconsider having a nerve block - it makes the pain worse.

marcie37 · 01-17-2003, 05:28 PM

Hi Kim, Thanks for your response. I went to that website, it was very interesting! I, like you would pretty much try anything at this point...I really need to find at least a part time job, and it's pretty tough when you can't sit too long or stand too long, or just can't get comfortable. How is one supposed to do this when the pain is sometimes unbearable... and all that helps me is ativan, and a heating pad.Also, beacause you look healthy on the outside, no one understands what you are really going through. I know I am 37 and you are 32, we are way too young to live life this way.